Avirmax CMC Inc. Launches AAV Production with Sf Rhabdovirus-free Cell Lines (Sf-RVFtm)

HAYWARD, Calif., March 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Avirmax CMC Inc. (ACI), a cGMP-licensed CDMO, is announcing the implementation of its newly-developed Sf rhabdovirus-free cell lines (under the generic trademark of Sf-RVFtm) developed for producing recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV).

As an insect cell line derived from the ovarian tissue of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf), the Sf9 cell line in concert with recombinant baculoviruses, has been widely utilized for manufacturing biologicals, including recombinant proteins, vaccines, and rAAV-based gene therapy vectors. The Sf9 cell rAAV production system has been shown to produce high yields of rAAV products containing vector genomes. However, Sf9 cell lines persistently carries Sf rhabdovirus (Sf-RV), an enveloped, negative sense and single stranded RNA (-ssRNA) virus. Although Sf-RV is an insect-specific virus and non-infectious to mammalian and human cell lines, using a Sf-RV containing Sf9 cell line for producing biologicals has potential viral safety risks that are required to be mitigated by international regulatory authorities during biopharmaceutical production.

When using serum-free suspension culture, Avirmax CMC's Sf-RVFtm cell lines have been shown to be comparable with respect to rAAV yields and quality, relative to rAAV produced using Sf-RV parental cell lines. "By implementing our Sf-RVFtm cell lines, the Sf-RV safety margin of biologic product has been increased by more than 1 billion-fold", commented Shengjiang Shawn Liu, Ph.D., DVM, chief executive and scientific officer of the company. Avirmax CMC Inc. is now using the Sf-RVFtm cell lines in rAAV manufacturing for research and clinical development purposes. Avirmax CMC Inc. is also expanding the Sf-RVFtm cell lines to the production of other modalities including vaccines and protein drugs.

Avirmax CMC Inc. (ACI) is a subsidiary of Avirmax Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area based firm working on technological solutions to challenges associated with rAAV manufacturing and testing. Please visit us at www.avirmaxCMC.com for more information.

Contact

Please contact
June Song, Associate Director for Operations
Email : business@avirmax.com
Tel: +1-510-641-0201

Address
25503 Whitesell Street
Hayward 94545 CA
USA

SOURCE Avirmax